Moss Beach, California
Moss Beach is a community of 2,683 people in San Mateo County, California.
Why visit Moss Beach
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 10 parks and trails, 17 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Point Montara Light, Miramar Beach, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and Pillar Point Bluff.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 66°F; December lows average 43°F.
Weather in Moss Beach
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Moss Beach
Moss Beach is a coastal census-designated place in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a year 2020 census population of 3,214. Located in Moss Beach are the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, a marine sanctuary; the Half Moon Bay Airport, the historic Moss Beach Distillery; and the Seal Cove Inn, a destination lodging property. Moss Beach has a cool coastal microclimate that gives a sense of separation from the nearby metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area and assures that summer temperatures are generally mild.
From the Wikipedia article Moss Beach, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Point Montara Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Lighthouse in California, United States
Miramar Beach
Beach · 2.5 mi
Sandy beach in San Mateo County, California, USA
Museums and landmarks1
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
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Restaurants and cafes17
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
Diner · American · 1.0 mi
390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00
Mezza Luna
Restaurant · Italian · 0.9 mi
459 Prospect Way, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Th 11:30-14:30, 17:00-21:30; Fr 11:30-14:30, 17:00-22:00; Sa...
Sam’s Chowder House
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.4 mi
4210 North Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Th 11:30-20:30; Fr 11:30-21:00; Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:30
Barbara's Fish Trap
Restaurant · 1.0 mi
281 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay
Su-Th 11:00-20:30, Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
Old Princeton Landing: Public House and Grill
Bar and pub · 0.9 mi
460 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay
Mo-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 09:00-02:00
5 more on the map.
History
Moss Beach began as a resort destination, with its first hotel built in 1881 by Juergen Wienke. It grew with the advent of the Ocean Shore Railroad.
From the History section of Moss Beach, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship1
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.3 mi
465 California Avenue, Moss Beach
Shopping1
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Pilarcitos Alternative High (Continuation)
School · 4.9 mi
498 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay
Healthcare1
Map of Moss Beach
50 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 43°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 60°F | 43°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 44°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 45°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 62°F | 48°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 64°F | 50°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 65°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 66°F | 54°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 66°F | 51°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 48°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 45°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 59°F | 43°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Half Moon Bay (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Mateo County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-08-22: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-08-20: Czu Lightning Fire Complex (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 0 miles away.
- El Granada 2 mi east, about 3 min by car
- Montara 2 mi north, about 4 min by car
- Half Moon Bay 5 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Pacifica 7 mi north, about 11 min by car
- Millbrae 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- Hillsborough 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Highlands 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- San Bruno 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Burlingame 9 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- San Mateo 11 mi east, about 17 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Moss Beach Shoreline, April 2007, Sallyrob at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Point Montara Light (2013), Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.